Mr. Colvin briefed the Council on problems that have surfaced with the equipment used in the NMFS trawl survey. NMFS conducts trawl surveys of the continental shelf from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras three times a year. The spring and fall surveys are bottom trawl surveys that serve as a basis for determining relative changes in the abundance of a wide variety of marine fish. The results of these surveys are a key element in the periodic stock assessments for most of the marine fisheries that are managed in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. In early September 2002, a fisherman pointed out to NMFS that it appeared that the cables that connect the doors to the trawl net used aboard the survey vessel were of unequal length. NMFS checked, and they were. There was a difference in the length of the cables on each side of the vessel; that created an offset in the position of the doors relative to each other and the vessel during trawling. An extensive process is underway to determine what effect the offset of the doors had on the catching efficiency of the survey net. Mr. Colvin observed that, in the course of this dialogue between NMFS scientists and industry advisers/observers, many other industry concerns about the gear and its operations have surfaced. It is not clear how this might result or not in a reexamination of the stock assessments for some species, as well as the management program that utilizes the survey data and subsequent stock assessment.

Councilor Freierman remarked that this issue was actively discussed at a recent meeting of the New England Fishing Management Council in Gloucester, MA. NMFS has issued a statement that says the offset trawl doors and other problems with the gear will not make a significant difference in the catch rates of the net as compared to pre-2000. Ms. Freierman reported that both recreational and commercial fishermen responded to this assertion with skepticism. She urged the Council and all in attendance to remain informed and engaged in this issue until it is resolved acceptably to all parties.

Mr. Colvin noted that the stock assessments that are most dependent on trawl surveys conducting using the misaligned cables are some of those of greatest importance to fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic region: lobsters; fluke; scup; black sea bass; and spiny dogfish. The fall 2002 trawl survey, conducted after NMFS corrected the cable and some of the other immediate problems that some of the fisherman pointed out, resulted in catch-per-unit effort (CPUE’s) that were quite a bit higher than in previous years.

Councilor Sullivan asked about the impact of the trawl survey problems on the 2003 recreational fluke regulations. Mr. Colvin stated that this was unknown. Fluke and several other species are quota-managed; you cannot do the management without a quota and at present there is no other scientific foundation by which to determine the quota than the stocks assessments which draw on the results of the trawl survey. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council doesn't have a solution to this dilemma that will pass scientific scrutiny.